Dad said he only came because of his son. “He's seen fake mummies on TV. He's having a zombie party next week,” Martinez said.

Andrew Jr. didn't look so sure: “It's spooky.”

Such reactions were common as children took in the multimedia exhibit, which displays human and animal mummies — man-made and naturally created — from Egypt, Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania and South America.

Photo: Kin Man Hui, San Antonio Express-News

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A Witte visitor takes advantage of the audio tour while checking out the sarcophagus of an Egyptian priest.

A Witte visitor takes advantage of the audio tour while checking out the sarcophagus of an Egyptian priest.

Photo: Kin Man Hui, San Antonio Express-News

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A mummified howler monkey grabs the attention of visitors on the exhibit’s opening day.

A mummified howler monkey grabs the attention of visitors on the exhibit’s opening day.

Photo: Kin Man Hui, San Antonio Express-News

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Lauren Asher of Denver views a mummy while listening to a guided audio tour of the Mummies of the World exhibit at the Witte Museum on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012. The exhibit features 150 objects and specimens from South America, Europe, Asia, Oceania and Egypt. The exhibit will be open thru January 27, 2013.

Lauren Asher of Denver views a mummy while listening to a guided audio tour of the Mummies of the World exhibit at the Witte Museum on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012. The exhibit features 150 objects and specimens

An image of a Egyptian carsophagus is projected on a transparent screen as exhibit guests view one of several mummies at the Mummies of the World exhibit at the Witte Museum on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012. The exhibit features 150 objects and specimens from South America, Europe, Asia, Oceania and Egypt. The exhibit will be open thru January 27, 2013.

An image of a Egyptian carsophagus is projected on a transparent screen as exhibit guests view one of several mummies at the Mummies of the World exhibit at the Witte Museum on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012. The

The sarcophagus of a man named Nes-pa-qa-shuti, which dates to about 650 B.C., is on display at the "Mummies of the World" touring exhibit at the Witte Museum on Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2012.

The sarcophagus of a man named Nes-pa-qa-shuti, which dates to about 650 B.C., is on display at the "Mummies of the World" touring exhibit at the Witte Museum on Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2012.

Photo: Billy Calzada, San Antonio Express-News

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The sarcophagus and mummy of a man named Nes-pa-qa-shuti, which dates to about 650 B.C., is on display at the "Mummies of the World" touring exhibit at the Witte Museum on Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2012.

The sarcophagus and mummy of a man named Nes-pa-qa-shuti, which dates to about 650 B.C., is on display at the "Mummies of the World" touring exhibit at the Witte Museum on Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2012.

Photo: Billy Calzada, San Antonio Express-News

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Mike Ochoa (right) helps set up the display of a high-status male mummy dating about 2,350 years ago.

Mike Ochoa (right) helps set up the display of a high-status male mummy dating about 2,350 years ago.

Photo: Billy Calzada, San Antonio Express-News

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Billy Staab prepares one of the mummy exhibits. The show opens Saturday.

Billy Staab prepares one of the mummy exhibits. The show opens Saturday.

Photo: Billy Calzada, San Antonio Express-News

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The Detmold Child is a Peruvian mummy of a youth who died about 6,500 years ago.

The Detmold Child is a Peruvian mummy of a youth who died about 6,500 years ago.

Photo: Billy Calzada, San Antonio Express-News

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This naturally mummified howler monkey is from the Gran Chaco plain of Argentina.

This naturally mummified howler monkey is from the Gran Chaco plain of Argentina.

Photo: Billy Calzada, San Antonio Express-News

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The mummy of a man named Nes-pa-qa-shuti, which dates to about 650 B.C., is on display at the "Mummies of the World" touring exhibit at the Witte Museum.

The mummy of a man named Nes-pa-qa-shuti, which dates to about 650 B.C., is on display at the "Mummies of the World" touring exhibit at the Witte Museum.

Photo: Billy Calzada, San Antonio Express-News

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Mummies of the World Day 2

Mummies of the World Day 2

Photo: Mathew Imaging , American Exhibitions, Inc.

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One of the goals of the exhibition is to demystify mummies.

One of the goals of the exhibition is to demystify mummies.

Photo: Courtesy, American Exhibitions Inc.

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The show explores death and burial rituals, such as those of Nes-pa-qa-shuti.

The show explores death and burial rituals, such as those of Nes-pa-qa-shuti.

Photo: Courtesy, American Exhibitions Inc.

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The Detmoid Child.

The Detmoid Child.

Photo: Craig T. Mathew/Mathew Imaging, American Exhibitions Inc.

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This is the mummy and sarcophagus of an Egyptian Priest named Nes-pa-kai-schuti, who played a role in the Egyptian religious hierarchy 2,650 years ago. The sarcophagus is made from sycamore wood and decorated with detailed paintings. Beautiful and extensive hieroglyphics tell us his name, his family heritage and his occupation. The inner coffin illustrates stages of the dead man’s journey into the afterlife.

This is the mummy and sarcophagus of an Egyptian Priest named Nes-pa-kai-schuti, who played a role in the Egyptian religious hierarchy 2,650 years ago. The sarcophagus is made from sycamore wood and decorated

This striped hyena, native to northern and eastern Africa, the Middle East and India, was found in the Dabié Cave in Jordan in 2004. It was naturally preserved in the dry cave environment; radiocarbon dating has found it to be less than 50 years old.

This striped hyena, native to northern and eastern Africa, the Middle East and India, was found in the Dabié Cave in Jordan in 2004. It was naturally preserved in the dry cave environment; radiocarbon dating

Most likely, this howler monkey from the Grand Chaco site in Argentina, South America was naturally preserved in the warm, dry environment.

Most likely, this howler monkey from the Grand Chaco site in Argentina, South America was naturally preserved in the warm, dry environment.

Photo: Darryl Moran, Courtesy

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This young woman with long, black hair was naturally mummified in the warm desert air, seated in the burial position typical in Chile before 1400 A.D. She was wrapped in fabric after her death, the impression of which is still visible on her chin and cheeks. She has unusual tattoos; an oval with a dot inside on both breasts and beneath the left corner of her mouth. Little is known about the meaning of these mysterious tattoos.

This young woman with long, black hair was naturally mummified in the warm desert air, seated in the burial position typical in Chile before 1400 A.D. She was wrapped in fabric after her death, the impression

This Peruvian child mummy is in a remarkable state of preservation, radiocarbon dated to 4504–4457 B.C. – more than 3,000 years before the birth of King Tut. The child, who was about 10 months old when it died, naturally mummified in the hot, arid desert environment.

This Peruvian child mummy is in a remarkable state of preservation, radiocarbon dated to 4504–4457 B.C. – more than 3,000 years before the birth of King Tut. The child, who was about 10 months old when it

This adult male Chilean mummy is from the Atacama desert, a 600-mile plateau in northern Chile known as one of the driest places on earth.

This adult male Chilean mummy is from the Atacama desert, a 600-mile plateau in northern Chile known as one of the driest places on earth.

Photo: Martin Rattini, American Exhibitions Inc.

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It's not known how the howler money from Argentina acquired his festive attire.

It's not known how the howler money from Argentina acquired his festive attire.

Photo: Martin Rattini, American Exhibitions Inc.

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This is the mummy of an adult male who was unwrapped long after his mummification. Analysis shows this man lived around 2,350 years ago. CT scans suggest he was 35 to 40 years old at the time of his death, around 5-foot-7 and had some arthritis. The man received a high-quality embalming, so he was probably a person of high status.

One little girl asked her mother about an ancient sarcophagus. “Mommy, who was in there?”

“Mummies of the World” includes 150 rare specimens and artifacts, including statuettes, a heart scarab, fragments of the Egyptian Book of the Dead, jewelry, toys and a mummified fish, dog, cat, hyena and baby crocodile.

The Witte is the only Texas stop on the exhibition's U.S. tour.

Among the most impressive displays is the Detmold Child, a 6,420-year-old Peruvian child mummy that predates King Tut by 3,000 years.

Jacquelyn Ramos, who brought her two daughters — Madelynn Ramos, 8, and Natalie Davila, 4 — said she's long been interested in Egyptian history and mummification.

See the ways that a corpse could become a mummy, sometimes by accident!

Media: San Antonio Express-News

Ramos found the displays appropriate for children and recommended it.

Madelynn, however, admitted it was “scary” — if not too much. “It's about real people,” she said, adding that her favorite was the Coptic Child in Embroidered Tunic exhibit “because it's a child and seeing a baby back then.”

(Coptics were the first Christians in Egypt).

Enclosed in glass, The Tattoo Woman, mummified in a sitting position by the elements in ancient Peru and with long dark hair intact, also stopped traffic.

One young boy took just one look and summed it up like this: “It's a little freaky, Dad.”

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More Information

'Mummies of the World'

Where: Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway

When: Through Jan. 27

Cost: $18-$22, which includes museum admission; on Tuesdays from 3 to 8 p.m., admission to the museum is free and “Mummies” admission ranges from $7 to $10. Children 3 and younger are admitted free. Advance tickets can be purchased at wittemuseum.org.